Lord’s Day, Vol. 9 No. 29
Be Glad in the LORD
Psalm 104:33-34 (KJV) I will sing unto the LORD as long as I live: I will sing praise to my God while I have my being. 34 My meditation of him shall be sweet: I will be glad in the LORD.
As the psalmist carefully observed the world around him, he saw the LORD his God’s superintending care over His created world. It led him to praise God. And as he meditated upon the LORD’s goodness , it was “sweet”, pleasing to one’s taste.
Below is a picture of a horn-billed kingfisher finding two fishes to feed her young ones. The bird has such sharp eyes that it was able to spot the fishes in the pond and it flew from a distance diving into the pond and with the lower beak pierced through two fishes at one time and close its the upper beak, capturing her food for her young, residing in a nest nearby.
How marvellous is God’s care over His creatures. His provision for them is a picture for our admiration what a great and gracious God we serve. He made the fowls of the air and He endows it with the skill to find its sustenance.
Psalm 104:16-17 (KJV) The trees of the LORD are full of sap; the cedars of Lebanon, which he hath planted; 17 Where the birds make their nests: as for the stork, the fir trees are her house.
The psalmist took time to look at the world around him and was amazed at the presence of God caring for His creatures.
Psalm 104:10-15 (KJV) He sendeth the springs into the valleys, which run among the hills. 11 They give drink to every beast of the field: the wild asses quench their thirst. 12 By them shall the fowls of the heaven have their habitation, whichsing among the branches. 13 He watereth the hills from his chambers: the earth is satisfied with the fruit of thy works. 14 He causeth the grass to grow for the cattle, and herb for the service of man: that he may bring forth food out of the earth; 15 And wine that maketh glad the heart of man, and oil to make his face to shine, and bread which strengtheneth man’s heart.
Are we not thankful for God’s care for us? The psalmist described the man’s blessing of wine and oil and bread that strengthens his heart. It gladdens his heart as he meditates upon his Creator’s care for his well-being. It causes him to sing praises unto God continually (v33). Such gladness as he tasted the sweetness of God’s presence and care, body and soul.
Let our meditation upon Him be sweet as we surrender our lives to His care, as we give ourselves over to Him to lead and guide us through life’s pathways. We can trust Him to care for us as He cares for the created world. It is a picture for our comfort and peace.
Our meditation upon Him shall be sweet as we contemplate His marvellous work of redemption. Sinners and wickedness dealt with (v35). For all who come to the LORD and acknowledge Him and own Him as our God, have our sins forgiven and reconciled with our Creator through His Christ. What blessing!
Psalm 104:1 (KJV) Bless the LORD, O my soul. O LORD my God, thou art very great; thou art clothed with honour and majesty.
We experience that joy of waiting upon Him to daily experience His care for us.
Psalm 104:21-24 (KJV) The young lions roar after their prey, and seek their meat from God. 22 The sun ariseth, they gather themselves together, and lay them down in their dens. 23 Man goeth forth unto his work and to his labour until the evening. 24 O LORD, how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is full of thy riches.
Man goes forth to labour from morning until the evening just as the young lions seek their meat, acknowledging that it is from God. He is the Provider, He blesses the labour of our hands. As he prays, “Give us this day our daily bread”, he rejoices for He never fails to provide. As we meditate upon His care for us we may safely rest in Him – Psalm 128:1-2 (KJV) A Song of degrees. Blessed is every one that feareth the LORD; that walketh in his ways. 2 For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands: happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee.
The God-fearer seeks to walk in God’s ways. Our labour, according to God’s way, shall be sweet. He shall be happy and it shall be well with him is the promise from Scriptures.
As we labour, let it be for the LORD’s honour and glory. As we labour according to His good word of instruction in the Scriptures, we learn to wait upon Him. We learn to entrust our lives to God’s care and wait or hope in Him.
Psalm 104:26-31 (KJV) There go the ships: there is that leviathan, whom thou hast made to play therein. 27 These wait all upon thee; that thou mayest give them their meat in due season. 28 That thou givest them they gather: thou openest thine hand, they are filled with good. 29 Thou hidest thy face, they are troubled: thou takest away their breath, they die, and return to their dust. 30 Thou sendest forth thy spirit, they are created: and thou renewest the face of the earth. 31 The glory of the LORD shall endure for ever: the LORD shall rejoice in his works.
The picture of preying in the animal world is the result of sin that entered into the world. As we think of the fish being eaten by the bird, we are reminded of the fall and the corruption that came upon this world as a result of sin. It has corrupted the Paradise that God has created. The Apostle Paul articulate well the corruption in this world as a result of sin in Romans 8:21-23 (KJV) Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now. 23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.
A time of restoration of His creation will come at the return of Christ as we watch and wait for our blessed hope – Psalm 104:35 (KJV) Let the sinners be consumed out of the earth, and let the wicked be no more. Bless thou the LORD, O my soul. Praise ye the LORD.
Yours lovingly
Pastor Lek Aik Wee